Attachment for stringed instrument.



PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

G. P. BUCHANAN. ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1905.

(2T1?) flu!!!) UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed August 4:, 1905. Serial No. 272,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BUCHANAN,

I a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in attachments for stringed instruments, and the invention relates more particularly to a novel and unique form of keyboard adapted to be used in connection with the above type of instruments.

My invention aims to provide a keyboard comprising positive and reliable means for effecting a perfect pressure upon the strings of an instrument to produce harmonics. In this connection the invention is primarily intended for use in connection with violins, and I have constructed my improved keyboard whereby it may be easily attached to the neck or finger-board of a violin or stringed instrument.

The invention aims to provide a device of the above character consisting of a series of keys that may be readily adjusted to conform to the plan of the strings of an instrument, the keys being so constructed as to have sufficient leverage to produce high notes upon the strings when the keys are pressed.

It is a well-known fact that difficult posi tions upon a violin exist where it is not an easy matter to properly depress the strings to obtain a perfect sounding of the notes for instance, in the second, fourth, and sixth positions.

In constructing my improved keyboard I have embodied certain novel features of construction which facilitate playing in producing the higher notes upon the strings, also facilitating the learning of music by begin- 11ers and enabling them to properly manipu late the instrument, whereby should the keyboard be removed a player having been trained to produce perfect harmonics will be capable of accurately fingering the fingerboard to produce positive notes.

WVith these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described, illustrated, and claimed hereinafter.

The present invention is an improvement upon my improved keyboard for stringed instruments application for which was filed in the United States Patent Office October 13, 1904, Serial No. 228,270, allowed June 10, 1905. In this application a device was illustrated and described for accomplishing practically the same purposes as the present application; but a more complicated and eX- pensive construction was employed, which partially rendered the device impractical.

The essential features of the present invention involved in carrying out the objects above specified (which are wholly generic to the present case) are necessarily susceptible to structural change without departing from the scope of the invention but the preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved keyboard applied to the finger-board of a violin. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the keys of my improved keyboard. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pivoted end of a key upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the keyboard. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the neck of a violin equipped with my improved keyboard. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of my improved keyboard, parts of the keys being shown in dotted lines, illustrating their relative position to a string. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an adjustment employed in connection with the neck of a violin for retaining my improved keyboard in position. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear end of the keyboard. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame of a keyboard. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the forward end of the keyboard. Fig. 12 is a similar \n'ew of a key in blank form. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view through part of the finger-board, showing the keyreturning springs.

To put my invention into practice, I construct my improved keyboard of a framework consisting of two bridges 1 and 2 and a plurality of frames 3. The bridge 1 forms the rear end of my improved keyboard, and this bridge is provided with an outwardly- 'edges of the neck 9.

extending flange 4, having apertures 5 formed therein, whereby the flared pierced ends 6 of the substantiallyinverted-U-shaped frames 3 may be secured to the bridge by screws 7 or the like fastening means.

In Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a violin 8, having a neck 9, which is provided with a head 10, to which the one end of each of the strings 11 is adjustably secured by a key 12.

The reference numeral 14 designates the fiDgGI-bO2LITl of the instrument, and in order that my improved keyboard may be secured to the finger-board or neck of the violin I provide the bridge 1 with depending lugs 15 15. Each of these lugs is provided with a screw 16, the ends of said screws being swiveled in yokes 17 17, which are adapted to engage the sides of the finger-board 14 or the The yokes 17 simply form cushioning-plates for the bridge, and I may provide said yokes with a suitable resili ent material, such as cork. (Not shown.) Besides forming cushioning-plates these yokes and the screws 16 serve as means whereby the rear end of the keyboard can be laterally adjusted or correctly positioned relative to the strings 11 of the instrument.

The bridge 2, which supports the forward end of the keyboard, is provided with a plurality of apertures 18, whereby the flared pierced ends 19 of the frames 3 maybe secured to the bridge by screws 20 or the like fastening means. The bridge 2 is naturallysmaller than the bridge 1 on account of the tapering contour of the neck 9 of the instrument.

In order to support the forward end or bridge 2 of the keyboard, I provide the bridge centrally of its length with a headed screw 2 1, said head having a peripheral flange 22. This flange is adapted to engage behind the plate 23, secured to the head 10 of the instrument by straps 24 24. The plate 23 is provided with a vertically-disposed slot 24 to receive the headed screw 21. The straps 24 24 are pivotally connected to the lower edge of the plate, as indicated at 25 25, and

the lower ends of said straps extend inwardly, as indicated at 26 26, and are provided with vertically-disposed set-screws 27 27. The straps 24 24 are adapted to embrace the head 10 of the instrument, and the set-screws 27 27 are employed for locking the straps in engagement with said head, said screws engaging the underneath surface of the head and retaining the plate 23 in proper position to hold the forward end of the keyboard upon the neck of the violin. In practice the plate and straps are secured to the head of the vio lin approximately in a proper position, and when the screw 21 of the keyboard has been placed in the slot 24 the screw can be rotated to position and retain the keyboard in proper relation to the strings 11 of the instrument.

Reference will now be had to the keys erases which I employ for depressing the strings 11 of the instrument and causing the various harmonics to be produced by a player manipulating the bow. A plurality of keys is employed by each string representing the dif ferent positions or frets upon the instrument, these keys being positioned between the frames 3 of the keyboard. Each key is formed from a blank piece of metalwhich is sheared or stamped to conform approximately to the blank illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. That portion of the blank designated 28 is bent to form a button or key proper, as designated at 29 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The ends of the portion 28 of the blank are provided with lugs 30 30, which are bent outwardly (see Fig. 2) to form a seat for the strings 11. The leverage portion 31 of each key is bent slightly out of alinement with the button or key proper, as indicated at 32, and the extreme end of the leverage portion 31 is provided with a right-angular protuberance conforming to a screw-head 23, this screw-head serving as a stud or pivotpin for the key, also to retain one end of a spring 34, the protuberance 33 being provided with a slot 35, in which the one end of the spring is secured.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 4 of the drawings, where I have illustrated a fragmentary bottom plan of the keyboard. It will be observed that the key A is pivotally connected to the rib B of one of the frames 3, said rib being pierced to accommodate the angular protuberance 33 of the key. As the leverage portion of the key lies out of alinement with the key proper, sufficient space exists between theleverage portion 31 of the key A and the rib C of the frame 3 to accommodate a key D, which is adapted to engage the same string as the key A only upon a different fret or position. The key (if is pivotally mounted in the rib C, as indicated at E, and as this key has its leverage portion lying in a plane opposite to the leverage portion 31 of the key A (relative to the keys proper) sufficient space will exist between these leverage portions for another key F, which is pivotally mounted, as indicated at G, in the rib B of one of the frames 3. This construction is carried out with the remaining keys employed in connection with the keyboard, this particular arrangement being used owing to the fact that it is necessary to compactly arrange the keys in order that the proper number may be used in connection with the keyboard. The springs 34 have been employed to return the keys to their normal position after they have been depressed by the player of the instrument, and said springs are adapted to lie under the frames 3 and bear at their extremities on the top of the finger-board 14, thus not interfering with the keys which lie between each frame. The peculiar construction of the frames 3 provides a housing for the springs, besides providing suitable supports to which the keys can be pivotally connected.

By referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be seen that the leverage of each key is equal, the pivotal points being equally spaced apart; but in some instances where the frets or positions are closer together the pivotal points will vary, owing to giving the key an equal leverage.

The top of the keys may be stamped or embossed with letters representing the note to be played by each key, or the keys representing the sharps and flats may be colored to distinguish them from the whole notes.

The operation of my improved keyboard is obvious, and it is thought from the foregoing that the construction, operation, and advantages of the herein-described stringed instrument will be apparaent without further description, and various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a finger-board of a stringed instrument, of a keyboard detachably mounted upon said finger-board, said keyboard consisting of bridges, frames secured to said bridges, spring-actuated keys pivotally mounted between said frames, a detachable plate carried by the neck of said instrument, a screw carried by one of said bridges and adapted to engage said plate, and means carried by the other of said bridges whereby it may be clamped to said instrument, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the neck of a stringed instrument, of a keyboard detachably connected to said neck, said keyboard consisting of bridges, longitudinally disposed channel-frames mounted between said bridges, keys pivotally mounted between said frames, springs mounted within said frames and adapted to normally hold said keys in an elevated position, means carried by the neck of said instrument, to retain one of said bridges in a fixed position, and means carried by the other of said bridges to engage said neck to hold said keyboard upon said neck, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a keyboard adapted to be mounted above the strings of said instrument, said keyboard consisting of two bridges adapted to be detachably connected to said instrument, longitudinally-disposed channel frames carried by said bridges, spring-actuated keys mounted between said frames, substantially as described.

4. A keyboard for stringed instruments consisting of two bridges, channel-frames mounted between said bridges, spring-actuated keys mounted between said frames, and clamping means carried by said bridges, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the neck of a stringed instrument, of a keyboard adjust ably mounted upon said neck, said keyboard consisting of longitudinally-disposed channel-frames, spring-actuated keys mounted between said frames, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P. BUCHANAN.

Witnesses:

W. H. AMMoNs, K. H. BUTLER. 

